SPIE Operations Alternate Element Discipline Lead Engineer

PAE Government Services Inc.; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Educational reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Amentum is seeking a seasoned Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership, operations, and integration support for the SPIE team. You will collaborate with cross-functional engineers and NASA centers to ensure successful design, testing, and launch activities for major space systems.

Responsibilities include coordinating data interfaces, leading trades, and delivering technical briefings while maintaining rigorous verification, validation, and documentation across all mission configurations.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading and applying systems engineering and/or operations engineering principles.
• Experience in systems integration and interface definition for hardware design, development, testing, integration, or operations.
• Experience developing and managing requirements for aerospace flight and ground hardware development, testing, verification, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison among SPIE Office teams to coordinate data needs and interfaces.
• Provide systems engineering and operations integration support for SPIE sub-elements and major hardware like ICPS, LVSA, and OSA.
• Coordinate with NASA centers and prime contractor teams to support design, development, test, evaluation, assembly, integration, and operations of SLS, EGS, MPCV programs.
• Lead technical briefings and develop procedures supporting SPIE element design, integration, verification, test, and launch.
• Apply established engineering and project management processes to support technical integration and program objectives.

Skills

Systems engineering

Operations engineering

Requirements management

Interface definition

Technical leadership

Communication

Team coordination

Problem solving

Education

BS in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Find Your Community

At the heart of our thriving business are the incredible people who make it all possible. We celebrate a vibrant array of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Here, we foster an environment where everyone, employees, clients, and partners alike, are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Prioritize Your Well-Being

Our extensive benefits package is designed with your health in mind. Enjoy wellness programs, paid holidays, generous time off, employee perks, and so much more. We’re here to help you achieve a harmonious balance in your life—both at work and at home.

Together, We Soar

Our dynamic team consists of 10 companies united in a single mission: to venture from Moon to Mars and beyond. Join us on this extraordinary adventure!

This position has been aligned with Tuskegee University. (Application instruction removed.)

Position Description

This position will provide technical leadership, operations, and systems engineering and integration support to the Systems Planning and Technical Leadership Branch (EV71) in support of the Spacecraft Payload Integration & Evolution (SPIE) Lead Systems Engineer (LSE) team, and the SPIE Element Discipline Lead Engineer (EDLE) for Operations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a liaison among the SPIE Element Office, SPIE Chief Engineer (CE), SPIE Element Lead System Engineer (ELSE), and SPIE Operations Element Discipline Lead Engineer (EDLE) to coordinate technical data needs, deliverables, and interfaces.
• Provide systems engineering and operations integration support to SPIE sub-elements, including the Artemis III Spacer hardware, Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter (LVSA), and Orion Stage Adapter (OSA).
• Coordinate with the SPIE CE, LSE team, Operations EDLE, and other NASA Centers to support the design, development, test, evaluation, assembly, integration, and operations of the Space Launch System (SLS), Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), and Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) programs.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance in developing systems engineering and operational engineering activities and products supporting SPIE Element design, integration, verification, test, and launch across all applicable SLS mission configurations.
• Provide technical insight into prime contractor operations engineering activities and other technical areas relevant to the SPIE Element.
• Perform systems engineering assessments of technical documentation, including Change Requests (CRs), Requirements Change Notices (RCNs), LCC Change Notices (LCNs), Operational Maintenance Requirements System (OMRS) documentation, and Work Authorization Documents (WADs).
• Represent the SPIE Operations EDLE at the Operations Integration Board (OIB), as required, and develop and deliver division- and department-level briefings on behalf of SPIE Operations leadership.
• Define, develop, and evaluate flight and ground systems operational requirements and objectives, mission requirements, supportability design considerations, schedules, and technical risks.
• Provide technical leadership and operations engineering support during launch operations from the SLS Engineering Support Center, including operational support and sustainment activities.
• Support verification, validation, and acceptance activities for SPIE Element hardware.
• Participate in document and milestone reviews, including major program milestones, review evaluation planning, and internal technical product assessments.
• Participate in hardware acceptance reviews, acceptance data package reviews, and hardware pedigree reviews, as appropriate.
• Lead and facilitate complex trade studies evaluating performance, schedule, cost, and risk to assess technical feasibility and support the justification and comparison of alternative engineering solutions and advanced concepts.
• Lead and participate in task teams, working groups, Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs), conferences, and training activities, including travel to NASA Centers and contractor facilities as required.
• Apply established systems engineering and project management processes, methods, and strategic practices to support technical integration and program objectives.

Required Education

A degree in aerospace, mechanical, or a related engineering field or technical discipline from an accredited university is required. Typically, educational requirements are the equivalent of a BS with at least 10 years of experience or a master’s degree with at least 8 years of experience. Must be a US Citizen and have a STAR ID.

Required Experience/Knowledge

• Demonstrated experience leading and applying systems engineering and/or operations engineering principles, processes, and practices.
• Experience in systems integration and interface definition supporting hardware design, development, testing, integration, and/or operations.
• Experience developing and managing requirements, processes, and procedures associated with aerospace flight and ground hardware design, development, production testing, verification, evaluation integration, and/or operations.
• Knowledge of component-level and integrated-system verification planning, including defining compliance criteria for ground and operational requirements and interfaces, and familiarity with developing verification compliance closure statements.
• Ability to interface and collaborate effectively with all levels of engineering and project management, including the ability to lead technical discussions, influence stakeholders, and build consensus.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate, collaborate, and resolve complex technical issues by systematically analyzing problems and breaking them into manageable components.
• Excellent written and oral technical communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex technical subjects to peers across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering project-level technical briefings to engineering teams, project management, and other stakeholders.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.

Desired Experience

• Knowledge of the current Space Launch System (SLS) program and a working understanding of SPIE interfaces, functions, and sub-elements.
• Familiarity with SLS Operations Maintenance Requirements System (OMRS), test and checkout activities, and verification and validation processes.
• Ground operations experience supporting Space Shuttle, International Space Station (ISS), Commercial Crew, Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV), or Department of Defense (DoD) launch vehicle programs.
• Experience with launch vehicle Ground Support Equipment (GSE) requirements, design, implementation, integration, and/or manufacturing.
• Experience interpreting and working with engineering drawings, interface control documents, configuration management documents, and other technical documentation.
• Experience in launch vehicle technical project management, project planning, or technical coordination.
• Familiarity with NASA systems engineering policies, procedures, and technical management practices.
• Familiarity with launch and operations simulations, day-of-launch procedures, and launch console operations support.

Essential Functions

Work Environment: Office environment. Requires ability to provide clear, concise, accurate and timely communication, both verbally and in writing (100%). Requires ability to interact professionally with co-workers, management, and client (100%). Requires travel in the domestic USA (5%). Requires ability to work at a computer for long periods of time (100%).

Physical Requirements

• Requires sitting for extended periods of time in meetings with peers, management, and with our client at NASA facilities to discuss technical issues (10%).
• Requires sitting for extended periods of time at a desk to write reports and perform engineering tasks (80%).
• Requires ability to use stairs or elevators for access between floors and multiple buildings at NASA and our facilities (10%).

Equipment and Machines

Requires ability to operate a personal computer, a telephone, fax machine, copier, calculator, and other general office equipment (100%).

Attendance

Normal workday 7:30-4:30, Monday thru Friday. Minimal overtime may be required (10%) to meet schedule milestones and to support technical demands of the job. Regular attendance is a necessity, and adequate arrangements for delegating duties during absences are required.

Other Essential Functions

The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and to make rational decisions, and to exercise good judgment is essential (100%). Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others. Proof of U.S. Citizenship is required.

Compensation Details

0.01 The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good‑faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Benefits Overview

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)
• Educational reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tax‑saving options
• Disability and life insurance
• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

Original Posting

10/27/2026 - 11/16/2026 Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law.

Welcome back! We encourage you to check on the status of your current job applications with us. You can also search for a list of our current job openings and see if there are any new positions that might be a good fit for you. Thank you for continued interest in employment with Amentum. For more than 100 years, Amentum has tackled the world’s toughest challenges to deliver agile and steadfast solutions to the U.S. government and its allies. With more than 50,000 employees on all seven continents and in more than 60 countries, Amentum delivers a broad range of operational support services to meet the critical needs of our clients. Our headquarters are in Chantilly, VA. Find us online at https://www.amentum.com/

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please complete our Accommodation Request. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you need assistance, please reach out to [e-mail]